Building block and wall construction



May 28, 1929. c. KosTER BUILDING BL oK AND WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1925 INVE [fiaries Irina Patented- May 28, 1929.

UNITE, s;

' CHARLES xosraa, oF'nEw YoRK,I1 I. Y'.

" v BUILDING BLooK AND WALL cons'rnuor on Application filed October 17, 1925. Serial No. 63,085.

This invention relates to building construction and more particularly to a copper veneered building block and the method of making the same, though it is noted that the invention is not limited to copper covered blocks, nor in some respects even to buildlng blocks.

One object of the invention is to provide a building block of this kind which maybe easily and quickly laid by relatively unskilled laborand which will have a very ornamental appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide astrong and well bonded structure or wall construction utilizing said blocks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the blocks and of erecting the wall.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and strength. of such structures and to provide a block of this kind which is strong and durable, and economicalto manufacture and lay.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description'proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described and claimed, the invention is not limited to these since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims,

The inventive features for the accomplish ment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved build ing block which, briefly stated, includes a metal shell open at the back and including top, bottom and end walls and a front wall,

tie wires being secured to the front wall and projecting at the rear of the shell, and a body of concrete filling said shell. Metal lath covers the back of the concrete.

As shown said blocks are laid on an iron work frame to form a wall having mortar between adjacent brick. Rods disposed behind and spaced from said lath are tied to the blocks by said tie wire; and a backing of concrete is cast against the blocks and around said rods.

In the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a fragmental I front elevation showing the blocks used in the construction of a wall;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of the wall, partly in section;

F ig; 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the wall; and I I j j F ig.4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, showing the shell and tie wire before theconcrete is cast in the shell and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective'view I showing a portion of the supporting-structural iron frame work. v

, Theouter part of my-improved building block 5 comprises a thin stamped-outblockshaped shell 6 (Fig. 4) of copper or other suitable material, open at the back 7 and including top and bottom walls Sand 9, anornamental front wall 10 and end walls ll'having vertical grooves '12 (Fig. 2) though the invention is not limited to all five walls, since the front wall and only one or two other walls are absolutely necessary.

A pair, of U-shaped tie wires 15 each has its yoke part 16 soldered to the inner face of said front wall andhas its free ends 17 projecting at the rear of the shell. An adhesive binder is applied to the inner face of the shell, and concrete 18 is cast into and fills the shell. Expanded metal lath 19 covers the backof the concrete, behindwhich lath the tie wires 15 are tied as at 20 (Fig. 2)

Figsl and 3 show a wall having windows r blocks are laid in suitable iron channels receiving the bottomrow of the blocks, the joints of said frame work being put together with insulating cement, ifdesired, in order that electrical disturbances may have no effect. A binder or mortar 24 (Fig. 2) of tar and cement is also applied between adjacent bricks or blocks and in said grooves 12.v

Reinforcing rods 25 vertically disposed at intervals behind and spaced from said lath i i are tied to the block bysaid' tie wires as at 26.'

After the blocks, to the height of one story are fastened in position as stated, a wooden or iron form is erected on the inside, and the intervening space of about twelve inches is filled with concrete forming a concrete backing 27 cast against the back'of the blocks and around said lath, rods and the tied ends of the wires.

The blocks are formed by stamping out or otherwise providing metal shells havin least one open side, preferably the back, and soldering'or otherwise securing the tie wires 15 to the inner face of the front wall of the shells with their ends 17 projecting at the rear of the shell after which an adhesive binder is applied to the inner face of the shell. If more than one wall of the shell is left out the shells must be placed in mOldswith theblocks are. laid on theframe work 23, with said mortar between ad acent blocks and 1n the grooves 12; The reinforcingrods are laced behind and spaced from said lath and :tied to the blocks by said tie wires 15.

' After each story of the block i is erected just to the rear of said rods and a concrete backing is poured between the form and blocks against the back of the blocks and around the lath, rods and the tied ends of the shell conforming the wires.

The blocks and wall construction when made as described meet the tests required by buildingdepartments, and the exterior of the shell may be treated with acids or other materials for pleasing color effects.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wall block consisting of a hollow shell closed except atone of its sides, a filling in the shell conforming to the shape of themt'erior of the shell and enclosed byv the shell except at one sideof the filling which is exposed by the open side of the shell, and tie means cooperating between the'front side of the shell and the exposed side of the filling.

2. A wall block consisting of a hollow shell closed except at one of its sides, a filling in to the shape of the interior of'the shell and enclosed by the shell except at one side of the filling which is exposed by'the o'penside of the shell, tie means cooperating between the front side of the shell and the exposed side of the'filling, and metal lathing secured by said means to the exposed side of the lillin 3. In a wall bloclna hollow shell closed at all its sides except its rear sldeand having securing means attached to the inner face.

of its front side. r p

a. In a wall block, a hollow shell closed at all its sides except its rear side and having securing means attached to the innerface of laid a form 7 its front side provided with end portions extending through the shell and outwardly from its open rear side.

5. In a wall block, a hollow rectangular shellclosed at its top, bottom, ends and front side and open at its rear side and having tie wires secured to the inner face of its front sideprovided with end portions extending through the shell and outwardly from its open rear side.

6. A block comprising a body of hardened plastic material;.a plate covering its front face; and tie means secured to said plateand passing through the rear of the body.

7. In a wall construction, adjacent blocks having securing means extending from the rear faces of. the blocks reinforcing means attached to the rear of the blocks by said securing means; and a plastic backing arranged against the rear of the blocks and enclosing the reinforcing means andsecuring' means.

8. In a wall construction, adjacent blocks having securing means extending from faces of the blocks; lathing attached to, the rear of the blocks by said securing means; and a plastic backing arranged against the, blocks and enclosing the lathing and securing means. v

'9. In a wall construction, adjacent blocks having securing means extending from'the rear faces of the blocks; lathing' attached to the rear of the blocks by said securing means; reinforcing devices disposed to the rear of the lathing and secured to the blocks by said securing means; and a plastic backing arranged against the rear of the blocks and en closing the reinforcingdevice and securing means.

10. In a wall construction, alinedblocks having securing means extending from the rear faces of the blocks; reinforcing rods disposed to the rear of the blocks and secured to the blocks by said securing means; and a plastic backing arranged against the rear of the blocks and enclosing the rods and securing means. I

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 15th day of October A, D. 1925.

I onAnLns KOSTER. 

